The Great Western Escape: Fremantle Prison

The entrance to the Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison (holding cells)

The middle of the building that juts out, second floor (where the arch windows are) is where the church is.

The Church is an ordained church even today

The church's commandments in the background was hand painted by a prisoner who was a professional sign writer. His paint was obtained by the local aboriginal people in the late 1800's. The 6th commandment was slightly altered to; thout shalt not murder, instead of thout shalt not kill. The Archbishop that inspected the mural questioned this (the sign writer stated, most men in here have kill someone)!

Wrought iron gates

The entrance to the church was specifically built for a man that was a couple of inches shorter than the top of the door's entrance. The door had lock and key, which the priest refused to lock the church, and stated that this is to be opened for anyone to come and go as they wish. Originally built as a Church of England denomination. Where the red curtains are in the background, were for the worst of worst criminals, and then later used for different religious denominations.

Convict settlement (Class 1) were children as young as 9years old to 18years old were held. They lined up in the mornings and received their buckets to wash in and wash their clothes in. Jacob and Zachary are demonstrating this very well for us. (This bucket was also used for toileting at night time).

Prisoners playground (No Grass)

Fremantle Prison, originally known as the Convict Establishment, was built by convict labour between 1852 and 1859 from limestone quarried on site. Original holding cell for convicts.

Modern version of a prison cell.

Fremantle prison was decommissioned in Dec 1991.

Prison Art

There were two particular notable artist in Fremantle prison in later years. This is just to show the mural on the prisons cell wall of this artist. He never went to sea but just drew from description.